Judge: Plea Deal for Lindsay Lohan Will Include Jail Time

A Los Angeles judge told troubled actress Lindsay Lohan that any plea deal in her jewelry theft case would include jail time.

Superior Court Judge Douglas Schwartz gave Lohan until March 10 to accept the deal in a grand larceny case, in which she is accused of stealing a $2,500 necklace from a Venice, Calif. jewelry store.

"This case does involve jail time, period," Schwartz told Lohan Wednesday morning. "If you plead in front of me, you are going to jail. Period. There may be an issue with amount of time, and that is why a judge has discretion. You will be going to jail."

The "Mean Girls" star arrived just before the start of a hearing in the case, which was filed after a jewelry store reported a $2,500 necklace stolen. Wearing high-waisted white pants and a low-cut black top, she read papers while her attorney, a prosecutor and the judge held an in-chambers conference. While she looked healthy at her appearance just a few weeks ago, the actress appeared gaunt at Wednesday's court date.

More On This...

Her parents, Dina and Michael Lohan, sat in the front row of the courtroom, several seats apart.

Lohan, 24, has pleaded not guilty, but her attorney has indicated that she may accept a plea deal, although Schwartz indicated he was not sure that was the case.

"I get the impression you are not going to accept the DA’s offer, that is the feeling I got, you will be pleading open to the court, and I will be doing the sentencing," he said.

Schwartz was firm with the star, telling her he would treat her no differently from any other defendant.

"I don’t want you to be a repeat offender, I want you to get on with your life, reach your potential and quit causing yourself additional stress," he said. "I want additional psychological information as to what other probation might be appropriate."

The judge also said it might be beneficial for Lohan to have a sponsor who is not a relative to help look after her.

"I need someone unrelated who is not moved so they can see that you can succeed, that will help you stay away from substance abuse issues, alcohol issues, and will help you get your life back on track and reach the potentials that you have," he said.

The necklace case has become the latest trouble for Lohan, who was sent to jail twice and rehab twice last year for violating her probation.

Lohan was also cited for speeding around 9 p.m. Monday in West Hollywood, reportedly driving 59 mph in a 35 mph zone, said sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore.

Lohan spent three months in rehab at the Betty Ford Center and was accused by a rehab worker there of misdemeanor battery during a December argument. Prosecutors in Riverside County have not yet decided whether to pursue charges.

About three weeks after her release, Lohan was accused of taking the necklace from Kamofie & Co., a jewelry store near Lohan's new home in Venice. The necklace was turned over to detectives before they could serve a warrant to search Lohan's home.

The 24-year-old actress's career has been stalled for months; she lost her part in a biopic of porn star Linda Lovelace while she was in rehab at Betty Ford.

Lohan's attorney, Shawn Holley, has denied the actress stole the necklace and said she's passed all drug testing.

Fox News' Janelle Benham and The Associated Press contributed to this report.